Page 11 of The Maid

"Well at least we get a nice view." Connor said looking at something over Gun's shoulder.

He shifted to look back and said, "Yeah, sometimes you get an occasional hot socialite or daughter of—Sonofabitch!”

Addie.

She was in another one of those tight-as-fuck knee- length skirts that melted into her curves like butter, but this time in black with a blue blouse and nude- colored high heels. She stood with a flute of champagne in her hand talking to three men Gun didn't recognize and a woman, who Gun vaguely remembered seeing a few times at team meetings.

"Damn it!" he murmured when Addie's hand went on the man's forearm and she began to laugh, loudly.

"More like, hot damn!" Connor snickered.

Gun ignored his buddies, set the beer down, and walked over to the group.

The man closest to Addie, the one still being touched by her, the one that Gun wanted to punch in the face, saw Gun approach first.

"Oh, wow. What a treat. Gun McCall." He turned to the other men and explained. "This is the Tornadoes’ wide receiver. He has two Super Bowls under his belt." As the men went on to recount Gun's accolades, Gun's eyes drifted down to where Addie's hand was on the man’s forearm. As if it was on fire, she quickly pulled it back and then Gun looked up at her, her face surprised. "I'm Roger Ervine, State Rep., district forty-four and these are some colleagues who flew down for the weekend, Monroe and Luis.”

Disengaging from the stare-down he was currently having with the maddening woman, he slowly turned his face and extended his hand. "Nice to meet you," he said, gravely.

"And we've just had the privilege of meeting these beautiful ladies, Sonia and Adalyn."

Sonia reached over Addie, "Mr. McCall pleasure to meet you, I’ve heard a lot of...interesting things about you." Gun took her hand and shook it and then turned to Addie. "All great things, I'm sure," he said, sarcastically.

Sonia snorted, "Yeah, great."

He then turned to Addie. "Adalyn, it's nice to see you again." She extended her hand and he took it, holding on to it longer than was necessary, his thumb rubbed a few times against her wrist before he let it go.

“We were just telling these ladies about our meeting this morning with the Mayor. What a character.” Roger said. “Anyway, I’ll be back, I have to go rub elbows with district forty-one,” he said pointing behind him. “And I think you’re being summoned as well, Mr. McCall.” Roger pointed to Jeff, who was waving at Gun.

Before he walked away, Gun whispered into Addie’s ear, “That fucking skirt, Addie. Jesus, the things I want to do to you—you can't be wearing anything underneath—”

“I should slap you right here, in front of all these people,” she hissed.

“You’d like that wouldn’t you?” He winked. “I’d fuckin’ love it. Don’t remember you liking to get rough, but I don't mind baby.”

“Gunther—”

“Uh oh, gotta run,” Gun said, looking at an impatient Jeff walking their way and leaving Addie tongue-tied and cute as ever.

The next thirty minutes were a whirlwind of handshaking and camera ops. His face hurt from all the fake smiling. After the crowd had died down, a few choice people had made speeches, and a lot of drinks had been consumed, Gun went back to the bar, where he found Connor and Jack.

"I'm done with being here." Jack groaned.

"One more drink, then I'm out too." Gun said and the guys agreed to stay for one more beer. Connor signaled for the bartender and ordered a round.

"Swear to God, I spoke to every single goddamn person in this room except for her." Jack said pointing at Sonia who looked as if she was getting ready to leave with Addie.

"Did you want to talk to her?" Gun asked.

"Fuck yeah. Look at her." The man had rainbows and goddamn glitter floating around his eyes as he stared at Sonia.

"So, grow a pair and go talk to her." Gun said.

"He won't talk to girls. He's painfully awkward. Tried hooking him up with my sister's friend and he stammered the entire time." Connor added.

"Shut up!" Jack playfully shoved Connor's shoulder. "I'm not awkward I'm just shy. The women in Kentucky weren't as forward as they are here."

Gun looked at the kid and brought back a wave of nostalgia. Connor was younger than Jack, but he had game and confidence. Jack, in his mid-twenties, was shy and quiet. He had come to Miami last year and had played a hell of a game, kept to himself and rarely attended events. He remembered those first years after being drafted and how hard it was to fit in.

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